ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday disputed President Donald Trump’s story that Cuomo promised not to challenge him for the White House in 2020.
The Democrat confirmed that he has discussed policy with Trump but dismissed the president’s account about their exchange.
“I don’t have personal, political conversations with the president,” Cuomo said in a response to a reporter’s question.
At a fundraiser Monday in upstate New York, Trump said that Cuomo once called him and promised “I’ll never run for president against you.”
“But maybe he wants to,” Trump went on, adding: “Oh, please do it. Please. Please. He did say that. Maybe he meant it. The one thing we know - and they do say - anybody that runs against Trump suffers. That’s the way it should be.”
Cuomo is considered a possible contender for the White House in 2020. He is seeking a third term this fall and faces former “Sex and the City” star and political activist Cynthia Nixon in next month’s Democratic primary. He’s made opposing Trump policies on immigration, the environment, abortion, gun control and taxes a priority since the 2016 election.
Trump, a New York native, also criticized another home state Democrat, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who like Cuomo is considered a possible candidate for president.
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